In schools today, there is a push towards implementing performance based graduation requirements (PBGRs), in addition to the courses students already have to complete. While many states already require an exit exam in order to graduate, Rhode Island is one of the first states to require PBGRs. There is a list of six, from which individual high schools have to choose two to add to their curriculum. These additional requirements include a capstone project, a graduation portfolio, certificate of initial mastery (CIM), the use of technological tools, public exhibitions, and end of course exams. Our presentation examines what it takes to graduate from high school in Rhode Island. This includes an analysis of course work, performance based graduation requirements, and why they are being implemented.
II. Research Summary
Under the group's general question about graduation requirements and their effectiveness, I was interested in standardized tests in both their effectiveness and the part they play in graduation. I wanted to find positive and negative views on standardized testing and see how the influence they have as a requirement to graduate. My research involved looking into not only standardized tests in general but specific tests and their influence on schools, students, and teachers. Throughout research I noted that the views on the new performance based graduation requirements and especially standardized testings role have evoked very mixed opinions. While I tried to find and present articles that were varied and presented differing opinions I found that most people currently involved in school systems find standardized testing outdated and support other performance based graduation requirements.-Lauren Turgeon
Based on my graduation experience, I was interested in researching the positive and negative aspects of the Senior Exhibition Project. I felt reasonably secure in my own opinions about the culminating project but I wanted to see if opinions in the rest of the country coincided with mine. Some critics say that students do not need the extra stress while they are preparing for college and that the project takes away from valuable class time. Others say the project teaches valuable lessons but is poorly organized. However, from most of my research I found that upon starting senior project many students were aprehensive and thought it was something put in place to "ruin their senior year" yet as they progressed and learned more about their topics, they became really attached to the projects and felt as though they had grown from the experience.
My part of the project is geared toward what classes students are required to take in high school before graduating. My research led me to learn about what is being done currently to instill higher graduation rates and lower dropout rates. There are different factors that weigh into the decision to drop out of high school. Many stresses put upon students cause a lack of effort. A compact is currently in effect to help regulate what students need to complete before graduation. Many states are aboard and many more are considering the compact. Another article stated that academic achievement of students should be standardized and equal in curriculums and tests. With this, what is needed from students will not differ depending on where the student is. The next part of my research consisted of looking at what classes are required by some schools in Rhode Island. I chose the high schools of my team members. With this information, I was able to conclude that Rhode Island does not have a standard class requirement for high school students before graduation, although there are similarities.
II. Group Product Overview
Our presentation will include an introduction to the different components of graduation and what is required of students to graduate from high school. Upon introducing our topics, the first to be elaborated on will be will be the implementing of graduation requirements and why they come to be. The next part of our presentation will include class and credit requirements. Following this will be a short activity to help engage students in what classes they believe should be required. Next, there will be a presentation on the topic of portfolios. Subsequently, the topic of senior project will be presented to the class, along with an activity to help better understand this requirement. Standardized tests are sometimes required in high schools for graduation and will also be included in our presentation. With this topic, we will include a standardized test and a short discussion on this topic. After each member has presented their focused topic, we will conclude our project.
After researching our topic our group still had very mixed opinions about graduation requirements. As a group we agreed that the ideas and intentions behind the requirements were admirable, the requirements themselves were ineffective. Although this was the general consensus, we could see that there was room for improvement and potentially making these new graduation requirements a reliable way to judge students' knowledge acquired in high school. We reasoned because most of these requirements are not only just be emphasized more heavily than before (like standardized tests), but many are also being implemented for the first time entirely making current students the guinea pigs in this education experiment. Furthermore, we also noted how some of the graduation requirements we researched end up taking away resources from other aspects of a students' education and putting unnecessary strain on both students and faculty. Overall, all group members agreed that making some form or performance based graduation requirements are a good idea in theory, there is a lot of work needed to make them fair and accurate assessments of a student's cumulative knowledge.
Individual Opinions:
While researching the educational issue of graduation requirements, I was most interested in the influence standardized tests play. While I was in high school, we had to take NECAP exams but they did not influence us or our future. Student scores would be saved but only to be used in collective data for their specific school and school district. However, I found that many more schools not only rely on these standardized exams more heavily, but that in some schools these exit or 'high-stakes' exams have the potential to be very detrimental to students' success in high school. I also discerned that while Rhode Island may not use exit exams that heavily, many other states enforce these exams in order for students to graduate. I was interested in how there can be so much emphasis on such a test and how a single exam can decide whether or not a student is able to graduate, regardless of their grades, etc. Throughout my research I looked at the effectiveness of standardized tests on their own and the effect it has on students' graduation, trying to keep my bias and dislike for these types of tests as a student out. My final thoughts agreed with the majority of opinions I found on the subject, there are pros and cons to standardized testing as a whole but that it is an ineffective and unfair way to decide whether or not a student is allowed to graduate.-Lauren Turgeon
Upon hearing that I would have to complete senior project, I pretty much felt like all of my peers, that the administration just wanted to "ruin our senior year" and that it was a pointless project that wouldn't really prove that I had learned anything in high school. Even through the beginning stages of the project I was reluctant to see its relevance. We seemed to be just filling out paperwork and making up information just so we coud meet deadlines, and the administration seemed equally uninspired. It wasn't until I began my fieldwork that I noticed a change in my opinion. I worked with patients with Alzheimers doing dance therapy, which helps them both physically and emotionally. The look on their faces when they were dancing is something that I will never forget, it was amazing to see that my passion for dance could be shared with other people. I feel that senior project, like many other graduation requirements, has the right idea but simply needs some changes in the process. I think that the equal results could come from having to do a more community service based project, with less paperwork and more actual hands on experience. -Allie Loiselle
When asked to choose a topic for this project, I was delighted to choose something that I was interested in. I chose graduation requirements because I always wondered what happened at other schools and if there is any sort of plan that Rhode Island and other states had for its secondary education. I wanted to research what classes are required because when I was in high school, I had room for one elective after the required classes. My choice was always chorus, however, so I have not had an art class since the fifth grade, for example. I believe that my school does have a strict class requirement. On the other hand, I believe that all schools state-wide, and even nation-wide, should have a standardized plan for students. Subjects, such as English, should be required all four years. Other classes, like physical education and social studies, should be agreed upon. The classes that students take in high school are important to paving the path of their future. Having an excess of one subject may have a positive or negative effect on someone. Required classes should be balanced. Also, with one subject outweighing another tremendously may cause stress on students because they know how important it is. This might cause a student to give up trying or try hard. It all depends on the student. To help our students stay interested in their education, they should know what is required of them when they enter high school and want to complete it. Sometimes the requirements are fuzzy or always changing. A state, in my opinion, should have a standardized plan for class requirements and instill it in schools.This is will help students succeed. -Briana Paulo
I. Description of Problem or Issue
In schools today, there is a push towards implementing performance based graduation requirements (PBGRs), in addition to the courses students already have to complete. While many states already require an exit exam in order to graduate, Rhode Island is one of the first states to require PBGRs. There is a list of six, from which individual high schools have to choose two to add to their curriculum. These additional requirements include a capstone project, a graduation portfolio, certificate of initial mastery (CIM), the use of technological tools, public exhibitions, and end of course exams. Our presentation examines what it takes to graduate from high school in Rhode Island. This includes an analysis of course work, performance based graduation requirements, and why they are being implemented.II. Research Summary
Under the group's general question about graduation requirements and their effectiveness, I was interested in standardized tests in both their effectiveness and the part they play in graduation. I wanted to find positive and negative views on standardized testing and see how the influence they have as a requirement to graduate. My research involved looking into not only standardized tests in general but specific tests and their influence on schools, students, and teachers. Throughout research I noted that the views on the new performance based graduation requirements and especially standardized testings role have evoked very mixed opinions. While I tried to find and present articles that were varied and presented differing opinions I found that most people currently involved in school systems find standardized testing outdated and support other performance based graduation requirements.-Lauren TurgeonBased on my graduation experience, I was interested in researching the positive and negative aspects of the Senior Exhibition Project. I felt reasonably secure in my own opinions about the culminating project but I wanted to see if opinions in the rest of the country coincided with mine. Some critics say that students do not need the extra stress while they are preparing for college and that the project takes away from valuable class time. Others say the project teaches valuable lessons but is poorly organized. However, from most of my research I found that upon starting senior project many students were aprehensive and thought it was something put in place to "ruin their senior year" yet as they progressed and learned more about their topics, they became really attached to the projects and felt as though they had grown from the experience.
My part of the project is geared toward what classes students are required to take in high school before graduating. My research led me to learn about what is being done currently to instill higher graduation rates and lower dropout rates. There are different factors that weigh into the decision to drop out of high school. Many stresses put upon students cause a lack of effort. A compact is currently in effect to help regulate what students need to complete before graduation. Many states are aboard and many more are considering the compact. Another article stated that academic achievement of students should be standardized and equal in curriculums and tests. With this, what is needed from students will not differ depending on where the student is. The next part of my research consisted of looking at what classes are required by some schools in Rhode Island. I chose the high schools of my team members. With this information, I was able to conclude that Rhode Island does not have a standard class requirement for high school students before graduation, although there are similarities.
II. Group Product Overview
Our presentation will include an introduction to the different components of graduation and what is required of students to graduate from high school. Upon introducing our topics, the first to be elaborated on will be will be the implementing of graduation requirements and why they come to be. The next part of our presentation will include class and credit requirements. Following this will be a short activity to help engage students in what classes they believe should be required. Next, there will be a presentation on the topic of portfolios. Subsequently, the topic of senior project will be presented to the class, along with an activity to help better understand this requirement. Standardized tests are sometimes required in high schools for graduation and will also be included in our presentation. With this topic, we will include a standardized test and a short discussion on this topic. After each member has presented their focused topic, we will conclude our project.III. Visual Representation
IV. Research Questions and Reference Summaries
V. Group Reaction/Opinion(s) about Issue
Majority Opinion of Group:
After researching our topic our group still had very mixed opinions about graduation requirements. As a group we agreed that the ideas and intentions behind the requirements were admirable, the requirements themselves were ineffective. Although this was the general consensus, we could see that there was room for improvement and potentially making these new graduation requirements a reliable way to judge students' knowledge acquired in high school. We reasoned because most of these requirements are not only just be emphasized more heavily than before (like standardized tests), but many are also being implemented for the first time entirely making current students the guinea pigs in this education experiment. Furthermore, we also noted how some of the graduation requirements we researched end up taking away resources from other aspects of a students' education and putting unnecessary strain on both students and faculty. Overall, all group members agreed that making some form or performance based graduation requirements are a good idea in theory, there is a lot of work needed to make them fair and accurate assessments of a student's cumulative knowledge.Individual Opinions:
While researching the educational issue of graduation requirements, I was most interested in the influence standardized tests play. While I was in high school, we had to take NECAP exams but they did not influence us or our future. Student scores would be saved but only to be used in collective data for their specific school and school district. However, I found that many more schools not only rely on these standardized exams more heavily, but that in some schools these exit or 'high-stakes' exams have the potential to be very detrimental to students' success in high school. I also discerned that while Rhode Island may not use exit exams that heavily, many other states enforce these exams in order for students to graduate. I was interested in how there can be so much emphasis on such a test and how a single exam can decide whether or not a student is able to graduate, regardless of their grades, etc. Throughout my research I looked at the effectiveness of standardized tests on their own and the effect it has on students' graduation, trying to keep my bias and dislike for these types of tests as a student out. My final thoughts agreed with the majority of opinions I found on the subject, there are pros and cons to standardized testing as a whole but that it is an ineffective and unfair way to decide whether or not a student is allowed to graduate.-Lauren TurgeonUpon hearing that I would have to complete senior project, I pretty much felt like all of my peers, that the administration just wanted to "ruin our senior year" and that it was a pointless project that wouldn't really prove that I had learned anything in high school. Even through the beginning stages of the project I was reluctant to see its relevance. We seemed to be just filling out paperwork and making up information just so we coud meet deadlines, and the administration seemed equally uninspired. It wasn't until I began my fieldwork that I noticed a change in my opinion. I worked with patients with Alzheimers doing dance therapy, which helps them both physically and emotionally. The look on their faces when they were dancing is something that I will never forget, it was amazing to see that my passion for dance could be shared with other people. I feel that senior project, like many other graduation requirements, has the right idea but simply needs some changes in the process. I think that the equal results could come from having to do a more community service based project, with less paperwork and more actual hands on experience. -Allie Loiselle
When asked to choose a topic for this project, I was delighted to choose something that I was interested in. I chose graduation requirements because I always wondered what happened at other schools and if there is any sort of plan that Rhode Island and other states had for its secondary education. I wanted to research what classes are required because when I was in high school, I had room for one elective after the required classes. My choice was always chorus, however, so I have not had an art class since the fifth grade, for example. I believe that my school does have a strict class requirement. On the other hand, I believe that all schools state-wide, and even nation-wide, should have a standardized plan for students. Subjects, such as English, should be required all four years. Other classes, like physical education and social studies, should be agreed upon. The classes that students take in high school are important to paving the path of their future. Having an excess of one subject may have a positive or negative effect on someone. Required classes should be balanced. Also, with one subject outweighing another tremendously may cause stress on students because they know how important it is. This might cause a student to give up trying or try hard. It all depends on the student. To help our students stay interested in their education, they should know what is required of them when they enter high school and want to complete it. Sometimes the requirements are fuzzy or always changing. A state, in my opinion, should have a standardized plan for class requirements and instill it in schools.This is will help students succeed. -Briana Paulo